{"id":174173,"date":"2023-02-25T17:14:08","date_gmt":"2023-02-26T00:14:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inbusinessphx.com\/?p=174173"},"modified":"2023-02-25T17:14:08","modified_gmt":"2023-02-26T00:14:08","slug":"navigating-murky-waters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/?p=174173","title":{"rendered":"Navigating Murky Waters?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Whenever we open a news app, we\u2019re inundated with headlines on foreboding topics. Looming recession. Political turmoil. Social unrest. Climate change. It seems there\u2019s no end to the doom and gloom. In times like these, the path toward success isn\u2019t just murky; it seems to have fallen away altogether. How can leaders navigate the challenges ahead \u2014 and come out on top \u2014 if we don\u2019t know where our economy, our organizations or even we ourselves<\/i> will be in the months ahead?<\/p>\n

We should take our cues from a creature that has thrived at the top of its food chain for millennia, despite the fury and unpredictability of nature: the shark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Contrary to their reputation as brutal, indiscriminate killers, sharks are actually smart, adaptable creatures with a deep respect for their environment \u2014 and their behaviors reveal the building blocks of lasting success.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One notable example: While one might assume sharks depend on their own brute power to survive in the ocean, their relationships with other fish are incredibly important.<\/p>\n

Sharks rely on remoras, or suckerfish, to eat parasites that would otherwise sicken and kill them. In return, the remoras receive a free ride \u2014 and the shark\u2019s protection.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not so different for humans. True success isn\u2019t achieved through controlling others or being perceived as a threat. Not even hard work and meticulous preparation are enough to guarantee that we\u2019ll achieve our goals in today\u2019s rapidly evolving and uncertain environment. Instead, it\u2019s our network of relationships that brings value to our endeavors in work and <\/i>in life, and that keeps us afloat and moving forward when the waters get rough.<\/p>\n

My new book Swim!<\/i> uses an engaging business fable to teach the lesson that it takes the right team and <\/i>the right attitude to achieve our potential. \u201cBig fish\u201d aren\u2019t ruthless loners; instead, they work with and develop others, constantly seek out opportunities to improve themselves, admit their mistakes and don\u2019t allow the past to define them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are my \u201cSacred Six\u201d principles that will help individuals adopt a few shark-like characteristics and become a valued \u2014 and valuable \u2014 impact player in their own ecosystem:<\/p>\n

Sharks never stop moving forward. <\/b>Some species of powerful sharks, including great whites and hammerheads, must continually swim forward. They need to keep water flowing through their gills to avoid drowning, which means that they can\u2019t stop \u2014 and they certainly can\u2019t swim backward. This aspect of shark anatomy offers an important lesson in seeking progress at all times, even when we\u2019re tired or have made a mistake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If we make a mistake once, it\u2019s a lesson. But if we make the same mistake twice, it\u2019s a choice. If we revert back to our old ways \u2014 or if we give up and stop swimming altogether \u2014 we\u2019ll never improve our future. Instead, it\u2019s crucial to move forward with purpose and direction. Fail forward. <\/i>In most instances, we can overwhelm a mistake with hard work. Just as forward movement literally gives sharks life, the progress we make will infuse us with renewed motivation and passion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharks never look down; they always look up. <\/b>Sharks keep their eyes on the water ahead of and above them, ready to react when prey appears. They don\u2019t waste their time or energy focusing on what\u2019s beneath them. Similarly, it\u2019s important for us to keep our eyes \u2014 and our attitudes \u2014 pointed in a productive direction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In most situations, our attitude is the only thing that can stop us. It\u2019s not that we\u2019ll never experience failure. Sometimes the fish will get away; sometimes another shark will chomp it before we can. Our job is to focus on what we can <\/i>do, instead of on what we can\u2019t, and to always be vigilant for opportunities.<\/p>\n

Sharks are always curious and learning. <\/b>Sharks can grow up to a foot a year, and their development isn\u2019t purely physical; they are always paying attention and are always learning. In fact, many sharks don\u2019t attack potential prey indiscriminately. They observe and investigate before striking to make sure it\u2019s a creature they want <\/i>to eat.<\/p>\n

If our lives aren\u2019t growing and improving, something is wrong. Sometimes we receive valuable instruction from other people, but more often, it\u2019s our responsibility to engage in self-reflection and self-analysis. Only by examining our choices, actions and motivations can we begin to work on our strengths and weaknesses. Once we do <\/i>identify a weakness that needs to be shored up or a gap in our skill set, we should be decisive and relentless in addressing it.<\/p>\n

Sharks always respect their environment and recognize other sharks. <\/b>Sharks don\u2019t typically perceive other sharks as threats, and they seldom attack one another. In other words, there\u2019s room in the \u201cocean\u201d for multiple leaders, mentors and success stories \u2014 no need to feel threatened or intimidated by another\u2019s accomplishments or position. Instead, we should strive to recognize the value that others bring to our team.<\/p>\n

Actually, some species of sharks work with others when hunting in order to take down larger prey. They tap into the strengths of their fellow sharks to achieve a common goal \u2014 and so should we. We can look around us for others in our field who are getting it done as well as \u2014 or better than! \u2014 we are. We can identify the \u201csharks\u201d in our own lives not just by their job titles or notoriety, but by looking at their character, work ethic and values \u2014 and pay special attention to sharks who influence others by proactively recognizing and coaching them.<\/p>\n

Sharks are always flexible. <\/b>A shark\u2019s skeleton isn\u2019t made of bone, but of flexible cartilage that enables it to change direction swiftly and efficiently. Some sharks are even able to swim in saltwater and <\/i>freshwater. All these things are instinctive for sharks, but for humans, changing and adapting to new situations can be extremely difficult.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A reluctance to change is what causes many people to stop moving forward. But it\u2019s not our past decisions that define us, but our next <\/i>decision. Often, the next \u201cright\u201d decision lies close to home; for instance, choosing to change our attitude or to accept constructive criticism. The good news is, the more flexible we become in the self-improvement arena, the easier it will be to pivot and persevere when external conditions become challenging.<\/p>\n

Sharks always elevate their suckerfish to new levels. <\/b>Suckerfish attach themselves to sharks. While they enjoy a \u201cfree\u201d ride through the ocean, they eat scraps from the shark\u2019s kills, as well as any parasites that might otherwise sicken and kill the shark. In other words, both the shark and <\/i>the suckerfish get value from this relationship. There\u2019s a lesson in here for us as well.<\/p>\n

In the human world, suckerfish are people who want to go places but need help to get there. They need direction and guidance, and to have their questions answered with patience. The more energy we put into helping them learn and grow, the more value they will bring to our team. And eventually, they will become sharks themselves. I truly believe that we aren\u2019t successful unless we take others with us. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Sharks are such effective predators because evolution has given them everything they need to be successful \u2014 and the same is true for us. We just have to make the choice to develop and use our shark-like skills daily.<\/p>\n

Swimming like a shark is a process that we must actively participate in throughout our lives. It\u2019s a mindset and a lifestyle. The \u201cSacred Six\u201d principles are a blueprint for how to operate as a person of integrity and success. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Walter Bond<\/a>\u00a0is the author of <\/em>Swim!: How a Shark, a Suckerfish, and a Parasite Teach You Leadership, Mentoring, & Next Level Success. Bond is alsoa renowned business coach, motivational speaker and former NBA player. His time in the NBA taught him the fundamentals every team needs to be successful, and today he shares his knowledge with global audiences to help entrepreneurs, business leaders, sales teams and employees get to the next level. Bond has keynoted conferences in numerous countries for brands such as 3M, Hilton, and Allianz.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Whenever we open a news app, we\u2019re inundated with headlines on foreboding topics. Looming recession. Political turmoil. Social unrest. Climate change. It seems there\u2019s no end to the doom and gloom. In times like these, the path toward success isn\u2019t just murky; it seems to have fallen away altogether. How can leaders navigate the challenges […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":174174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-174173","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-leadership-management"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174173","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=174173"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/174173\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=174173"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=174173"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging.inbusinessphx.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=174173"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}